Brightwork Refinishing

[Bill Asbury]

Heatgun or Sanding Preferred?

Thanks
asbury

[Craig Illman]

Heat gun is faster, but you have to be careful not to scorch the teak.

Craig

[Ron Hill]

Asbury : After 20 seasons, I found that taking the teak off the boat is the way to go!  Then I put the flat pieces on a table belt sander (easy does it!!) to get off the Cetol/varnish/what ever.  Then use a finishing sander. 
On the curved pieces (hand holds) I make a scraper and then finish off with a finishing sander.  If you have plugs to remove use a forrester bit to get a clean outer cut - as those plugs are caulked in!!

It's sooo much easier, goes MUCH faster and you can put the required coats of Cetol/refinishing product on at home (at least on the edges) and finish up on the boat after remounting.
A few thoughts.   

[Bill Asbury]

Craig & Ron, thanks for your responses.  I'm just learning how to use the mesage board and that was my first post.  Tried the heat gun and scraper which seemed to work ok but hadn't thought of removing teak from boat to work on, tho don't have belt sander at home.  Still, sounds like might be good idea to remove wood and take home to work on.  Unfamiliar with how message board works so assuming this message is going to both of you.

Kind regards and thanks again!

Bill 

[Stu Jackson]

Hi, Bill, and welcome to the C34 Message Board.  As a board, ALL of the material is available to everyone and is always "ON" to read and search for information.  This is NOT an "email List," it's full time, real time, and, some would say, usually on topic for technical information.

For some "beginner's" information, try these links to help you out and get started:

Identification:  http://c34.org/bbs/index.php?topic=1506.0

Technical Resources:  http://c34.org/bbs/index.php?topic=3362.0  (use the links in this thread to wander around and find information)

Re your teak:  since the nice part about these message boards is that you're bound to obtain conflicting recommendations, we never take our teak off for refinishing.  We removed all evidence of varnish when we bought the boat in 1998, and replaced it with cetol.  I find getting the handrails back on the boat to be too much effort, so we just lift them for rebedding and re-"painting" with the cetol.  A search on cetol and varnish will turn up more than you'll ever want to know.   

[Larry Robertie]

Bill,

As the others have suggested it is easiest to take the teak off.  But you don't need a belt sander, in fact I find that a random orbital sander, starting with 80 (yes 80) grit does a great job of removing finish.  I'd then do the teak with nothing finer than a 150.  That sounds pretty rough I know, but Teak has a lot of oil in it and you do not want to create too smooth of a surface, else the new finish will not take.  Also, on that first coat, thin the finish down to 50% finish and 50% whatever it is that's recommended to thin the finish.  That will get you more penetration and a better bond.

[Bill Asbury]

Thanks, Stu & Larry.  I don't know what product the PO put on the teak, but I have random orbital sander and heat gun so will get old stuff off and apply Cetol.  Thanks for the suggestions.

Stu, have been using corporate computer for years to do email and reports in Outlook but slow in navigating Internet outside of work, so appreciate your guidance.  BTW, was in Bay Area on biz Tues-Fri (former Marin resident) and stopped by Latitude 38 in MV to chat with Richard.  Now visiting family in San Diego before returning to The Sailing Capital (Annapolis) tomorrow.

Thanks again!

Bill

[Ron Hill]

Bill : Your orbital sander is OK for taking off the outside finish.  If you want a nice smooth product you'll need a finishing sander for the final touches!!    

[Bill Asbury]

Thanks, Ron!  Will visit hardware store and check out sanders.

Bill

[Mike and Joanne Stimmler]

Bill,
Did you get to do any sailing in the Bay area or San Diego?

Mike

[Bill Asbury]

Not this trip, Mike, with Bay Area visit strictly business with HP, etc., sailing around in  freeway traffic.
Occasionally sail with friend in Santa Barbara, one of the beauty spots on the planet.
Have son in San Diego who has a kayak, so we went to beach in La Jolla for kayaking and swimming Sunday.

Bill